Rockets land Scola, deal Spanoulis to Spurs

LAS VEGAS -- The Rockets took their search for a power forward around the planet and found just what they wanted available down the road.

The Rockets completed a deal to land forward Luis Scola, one of the stars of Argentina's 2004 gold medal winning Olympic team and twice the MVP of the Spanish league, sending guard Vassilis Spanoulis, a 2009 second-round pick and cash to the Spurs for Scola and reserve center Jackie Butler.

Scola, a 6-foot-9, 230-pound forward that was the 56th player taken in the 2002 Draft, had become one of the most coveted unsigned players in the world, but became increasingly difficult to sign as he became the star of Tau Ceramica (Vitoria, Spain), one of the top traditional powers in Europe.

The Spurs permitted the Rockets to talk with Scola, 27, in recent days and although contract negotiations were not permitted, Rockets general manager Daryl Morey was confident that Scola was ready to make the move to the NBA.

``We're planning to sign Luis,'' Morey said. ``He's excited to play in Houston. We expect to see him in a Rockets uniform next year. Luis is very motivated to come to the league and is very motivated to play with Yao and Tracy.''

Argentina's Luis Scola has gone toe-to-toe with NBA stars like Carlos Boozer in international play.

Argentina's Luis Scola has gone toe-to-toe with NBA stars like Carlos Boozer in international play.

Photo: Chronicle File Photo

Photo: Chronicle File Photo

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Argentina's Luis Scola has gone toe-to-toe with NBA stars like Carlos Boozer in international play.

Argentina's Luis Scola has gone toe-to-toe with NBA stars like Carlos Boozer in international play.

Photo: Chronicle File Photo

Rockets land Scola, deal Spanoulis to Spurs

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``The Spurs gave us permission to speak with him about three days ago and we had a long conversation. It was very positive on both ends.''

Teams are not permitted to make offers until the deal is complete, but the Rockets will likely have to offer between $3 million and $3.5 million for the first year. Morey would not discuss the parameters of the deal he has in mind.

While the deal should bring the Rockets their power forward, it also could mean Spanoulis' freedom.

Spanoulis and his agent, Miodrag Raznatovic, could not be reached on Thursday, but last week Raznatovic said Spanoulis would never play for the Rockets or any team in the United States. He even added ``They could trade him to San Antonio and he could be the starting point guard, and he would he would say, `No, I cannot.' ''

Spanoulis played in 31 games last season, averaging 2.7 points and .9 assists in 8.8 minutes per game. He made 31.9 percent of his shot, 17.2 percent of his 3-pointers.

Butler, a 6-10, 260 center, played in just 11 games with the Spurs, after he was acquired from the Knicks. Butler, 22, has averaged five points 53.9 percent shooting in 69 career games.

Morey said the deal does not in any change the Rockets' intentions to sign both Chuck Hayes and Dikembe Mutombo, though with the little room likely left in the mid-level exception, the Rockets could try to sign Mutombo for the veteran's minimum.

Butler has one guaranteed season, worth $2.35 million, remaining on his contract.

``Jackie is someone we wanted in the deal,'' Morey said. ``Obviously, we had a need at center. He'll have a shot to prove it.''

But the prize in the deal was Scola.

``He has a pretty complete game in terms of an offensive skill-set, defensive integrity. He was MVP of the Spanish League, the best league outside the US, two of the last three years. He's been Euroleague first team which I would say makes him a top five player over the there.